I'm Going To QuiltCon - Are You?

WOW, what a start to the day!!!

Up, ready for the off and counting down the seconds to 10 am when QuiltCon registration opens.  

Checklist ticked:

• Spend hours pouring over QuiltCon course and lecture catalogue
• Make list of 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices for courses
• Watch QuiltCon youtube videos detailing 'how to register'
• Discuss all options with friend, M
• Book plane tickets
• Book accommodation

So at 10 am I'm all prepared and madly hitting refresh on the registration page waiting for it to go live.  And here we go - so I quickly tick my four courses for the four days, pay for them and anxiously wait to see if I've been registered for places on each.  Instantly I'm informed that only two of the four courses had places available - wow, it's less than three minutes since the system went live and two courses are already full so the system throws me back to the beginning of registration again and tells me to find alternates for the two full courses and, worse still, they haven't booked me on to the two courses that do have places.  

As quickly as I can I tick my 2nd choices to add to my two 1st choices and then have to enter my credit card details again ... hit the payment button and wait to see if I've been successful this time ... NO - I'm not booked on anything because my two 1st choices that had been available first time around are now fully booked also, so guess what - the system throws me back to the beginning of registration again and tells me to find something else.  Well it's a good five minutes since the system went live and I can see that most of the courses are now full so I just select pretty much anything that still has places - yes I've already got flights and accommodation booked and paid for so I'd better find something, anything, to do for four days in Austin in February!!!

Well the final outcome is that I'm going to Texas for seven days - M and I are going to have a bit of a presidential road trip for three days before QuiltCon and I'm looking forward to extending my very limited knowledge on aspects of US political history.  Once I get to QuiltCon I'm booked on four courses, a different one each day of the conference - yes, they're not my 1st, 2nd or even my 3rd choices but I know I'm going to have an absolute ball and I also have a four day lecture pass and four day show pass.

Here's a list of my courses - if any of you are on them too be sure to get in touch, I'd love to hear from you.  Also if any of you are going to be at the show on any day let me know about that too and we can try to meet up, which would be fun.

Thursday, 21 February 2012 (9 am to 5 pm) - Modern Block Improv with Sherri Lynn Wood

Start with a favorite traditional block pattern and transform it through a series of improvised repetitions into something uniquely modern. We will brainstorm the possible range of alterations and then practice putting our blocks through a series of rhythmic iterations using basic improv piecing and compositional techniques. All skill levels.

Friday, 22 February 2012 (9 am to 5 pm) - Perfect Circles with Cheryl Arkison

Add a new dimension to your quilts with circles. Appliqu_d or inset, full, half, or quarter circles. Circles are a great way to showcase favorite fabrics or add movement to your quilts. This class will cover a number of different ways to add circles to your quilts.

Saturday, 23 February 2012 (9 am to 5 pm) - The Signature Quilt with Valori Wells

The "Signature Quilt" will give you the opportunity to discover the magic of simple free form cutting and piecing. You will create a one-of-a-kind quilt that is truly "your design." In a short period of time, you will learn to cut freehand and piece gentle curved lines, giving you the confidence to design your quilt.

Sunday, 24 February 2012 (9am to 12 noon) - Playing with Sheer Fabrics - Silhouette Pillow with Yoshiko Jinzenji

Yoshiko is known for using sheer fabrics to add dimension and interest to her minimalist quilts. Work with Yoshiko to learn how to integrate sheer fabrics into your everyday quilting. Students will make a silhouette pillow featuring sheer fabrics. 

 Is anyone out there very excited that they're going to QuiltCon?  

Yes, ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!